Student-Athletes

More than 460,000 NCAA student-athletes – more than ever before – compete in 24 sports every year. Member schools support their student-athletes’ academic success by providing state-of-the-art technology, tutoring and access to academic advisors. More than eight out of 10 student-athletes will earn a bachelor’s degree, and more than 35 percent will earn a postgraduate degree.

Every January, NCAA members travel from campuses and conferences around the country to attend the NCAA Convention. Leaders throughout college sports gather to vote on rule changes, which are developed by members and committees throughout the year in an effort to best support student-athletes.

Many boys and girls grow up dreaming of playing sports in college and the pro ranks. But of the nearly 8 million students currently participating in high school athletics in the United States, only 480,000 of them will compete at NCAA schools. And of that group, only a fraction will realize their goal of becoming a professional athlete.

The NCAA receives most of its annual revenue from two sources. That money is distributed in more than a dozen ways – almost all of which directly support NCAA schools, conferences and nearly half a million student-athletes.